Useful English Idiom to Boost Your English: Touch and Go

What does it mean?

Touch and go describes a situation that is extremely uncertain, risky, or could go either way. Success and failure are equally possible.

Is it positive or negative?

It is negative - used for dangerous, critical, or high-risk situations.

When do you use it?

Use it when something important could succeed or fail: health, business, deadlines, emergencies.

Examples

Example 1: After the crash, his condition was touch and go for hours.

Example 2: It was touch and go whether we'd finish in time.

Question for You

Have you ever been in a situation that felt touch and go?

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